DOE Secretary Raphael Lotilla faces the Commission on Appointments. During the hearing on Wednesday, Lotilla’s appointment was approved at the committee level and was forwarded to the plenary for confirmation. (Screenshot from Senate livestream)
MANILA, Philippines — The ad interim appointment of Secretary Raphael Lotilla at the Department of Energy (DOE) will now be up for approval after the Commission on Appointments (CA) panel has recommended his confirmation.
During the CA’s Wednesday hearing, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri moved to approve Lotilla’s appointment at DOE at the committee level after no other concerns were raised by lawmakers.
“If there’s none Madam Chair, may I make the motion and support the Majority Floor Leader that we move to approve on committee level and send to plenary the ad interim appointment for confirmation of Secretary Popo Lotilla,” Zubiri said during the hearing presided over by Senator Loren Legarda.
Meanwhile, Legarda said she is happy that Lotilla, who also hails from Antique, accepted the DOE post despite the difficult times.
“Before we (act on) the motion to recommend to the plenary, we would just state that clearly, there are no inquiries and clarifications from or for the appointee at this point. And this motion no less than from the Senate President to recommend the plenary to confirm the ad interim appointment of Secretary Raphael Perpetuo Lotilla as Secretary of [DOE],” Legarda said.
“Again, for the record, he is from Sibalom, Antique, he is my Kasimanwa, and I am happy, Mr. Secretary, to have shepherded your confirmation […] we thank you for accepting the post in this most challenging time,” she added.
Lotilla’s approval came on Wednesday, a day after the same panel deferred the deliberations on his appointment as Sagip party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta said he had more questions for Lotilla.
Marcoleta raised several concerns on Wednesday, including supposed excess charges on electric bills and the alleged inability of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) to lower electricity costs.